Headaches in Children

Topic Overview

What types of headaches can children have?

Migraines and
tension headaches are common types of headaches in
children. These headaches have different symptoms, but they can sometimes be
hard to tell apart.

It's important to find out what kind of headache your child has, since
the medicines and other treatments may be different. Different things can
trigger each kind of headache in different people. Talk to your child's doctor
about any headaches your child has.

What causes headaches in children?

It isn't clear
why some people get migraine headaches and others do not.
Migraines often run in families. Experts aren't sure what causes migraines.

The cause of tension headaches also isn't
clear. Experts believe there may be more than one cause.
In the past, doctors believed that tension or spasms of the muscles of the
neck, face, jaw, head, or scalp played a role. Now they think a change in brain
chemistry may also cause a tension headache.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of migraine headaches include:

Throbbing that can be felt on one side or both sides of the
head. The pain also can move from one side of the head to the
other.

Nausea, vomiting, or both.

Sensitivity to light,
noise, and sometimes smells.

Changes in vision, such as flashing
lights or dark spots, before the headache starts. This symptom, called
aura, is more common in adults than in children.

Symptoms of tension headaches include:

A constant ache that does not throb or pulse. Your child
will probably feel pain or pressure on both sides of the
head.

Tightness around the head or forehead.

Aching
pain at the temples or the back of the head and neck.

What other signs of headaches should you watch for?

Some children, especially younger ones, may not always tell you when they
feel a headache. So watch for other signs. A headache may cause your child to:

Act cranky or upset.

Fall
asleep at an unusual time or act sleepy.

Be less active than usual
or not watch TV.

Rub his or her eyes or head.

Avoid
noise or bright light.

If you notice any signs, find out how your child is
feeling. Talk with your child about letting you and other caregivers know as
soon as a headache starts.

How are children's headaches diagnosed?

Your
child's doctor will do a physical exam and ask questions, such as how often the
headaches occur and what the symptoms are. The doctor will also ask about your
child's overall health.

The doctor can rule out other health
problems that may be related to the headaches.
Other exams and tests are usually recommended only if the doctor finds
signs of other health problems.

Headaches
aren't usually a sign of something serious. But they can be painful and hard
for your child to live with.

How are they treated?

Migraines and tension
headaches can be treated with
over-the-counter pain relievers, such as children's
acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If this doesn't help stop your child's headaches,
or if the headaches happen often, your doctor may prescribe other
medicines.

Home treatment, such
as managing stress, can also help your child feel better. Your child can help
prevent headaches by avoiding things that trigger them.

Health Tools

Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health.

Actionsets are designed to help people take an active role in managing a health condition.

Causes

Migraine headaches

It isn't clear why some
people get migraines and others do not. Migraines often run in families.
Experts aren't sure what causes migraines.

Tension headaches

The cause of tension headaches
also is not clear. Experts believe there may be more than one cause of tension
headaches. In the past, doctors believed that tension or spasms of the muscles
of the neck, face, jaw, head, or scalp played a role in causing these
headaches. Now they think a change in brain chemistry may also cause a tension
headache.

What experts know about the causes of headaches is based on
research in adults.

Symptoms

Migraine headaches

Migraines are intense, throbbing headaches that can be felt on one side
or both sides of the head. The pain also can move from one side of the head to
the other. Migraines can make it hard for your child to move around or do daily
activities.

Other symptoms of migraines include:

Nausea, vomiting, or both.

Sensitivity
to light, noise, and sometimes smells.

Paleness.

Changes in mood.

Changes
in vision, such as flashing lights or dark spots, before the headache starts.
This symptom, called aura, is more common in adults than in children.

Feeling lightheaded or dizzy.

Without treatment, your child's migraine headache can last
as long as 72 hours.

Tension headaches

Tension headaches can
last from 30 minutes to as long as several days. For
children, these headaches often happen during school or around the time of a
stressful event. And they can build up during the day.
Symptoms of tension headaches include:

A constant ache that does not throb or pulse. Your child will
probably feel pain or pressure on both sides of the head.

Tightness
around the head or forehead.

Aching pain at the temples or the back
of the head and neck.

Being sensitive to light or noise (but not both) can
sometimes be a symptom of tension headaches. But sensitivity to light and noise
is more common with migraines.

Exams and Tests

Your child's doctor will do a
physical exam and
ask questions, such as how often the headaches occur and what the symptoms
are. The doctor will ask about your child's overall health.

Migraines and tension headaches can be similar to
other kinds of headaches, which may have different treatments. So it's
important for your child's doctor to find out what kind of headache your child
has. The doctor also can make sure your child doesn't have other health
problems that may be related to the headaches.

It's common for parents to feel very concerned about their child's
headaches. You may feel that more testing is needed to rule out serious causes.
But doctors often can find out the type and the cause of the headaches without
using other tests.

In some
cases, imaging and other tests may be recommended to rule out other health problems,
but this isn't common. These tests include:

An
MRI or
CT scan, which can show pictures of the brain to rule
out problems like tumors or bleeding.

A
lumbar puncture, in which a needle is used to remove a
small amount of fluid from the spinal canal. The fluid is then looked at for
signs of infection.

Medicines

Medicines for migraine headaches

Migraines can be treated with
over-the-counter pain relievers, such as children's
acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If this doesn't help stop your child's headaches,
or if the headaches occur often, your doctor may prescribe medicines.

Medicines for children's migraines are being researched. Sumatriptan is a
medicine doctors sometimes prescribe to treat children's migraines. This
medicine has been shown to work well in adults with migraines. More research is being done on the
safety of migraine medicines for children.

Have your child take his or her
medicines at the first sign of a migraine. This helps stop the headache before
it gets worse.

Your doctor also may prescribe medicines to help with nausea.

If your child's migraines are severe, happen often, or interfere with
school or other activities, your doctor may prescribe a daily medicine to help
prevent them. Have your child take that medicine every day, even if he or she
does not have a headache.

Medicines for tension headaches

Tension headaches can be treated with
over-the-counter pain relievers, such as children's acetaminophen or
ibuprofen.

If your child's headaches are severe, happen often, or
interfere with school or other activities, your doctor may prescribe a daily
medicine to help prevent them. Have your child take the medicine every day,
even if he or she does not have a headache.

Giving medicines to children safely

Be careful
about giving over-the-counter pain relievers often. Over time, this can make
your child's headaches happen more often or get worse. Ask your doctor how
often your child should take these medicines.

Here
are some other important safety tips:

Give medicines to your child exactly as your doctor says.

Read and follow all the instructions on the medicine label. Even
medicines labeled for children can harm your child if they're not taken the
right way.

Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a serious illness.

Home Treatment

Home treatment can help relieve your
child's headaches. It also can help reduce how often the headaches occur.

When your child has a headache, be sure to give comfort and support.
Headaches can be painful and upsetting. Easing stress or anxiety about the
headaches is important for helping your child feel better.

Your
child may feel stress about missing school or having less time with friends
because of the headaches. Talk about any fears or concerns he or she might
have.

Work with your child's doctor

Tell your child's
doctor about any headaches your child has. The doctor can help you know what
type of headache it is so you can choose the best treatment. It
may help to find a doctor who has experience treating headaches in children.

Keep a
headache diary(What is a PDF document?). A headache diary can help you find a link between your
child's headaches and the things that trigger them. Help your child write down when
each headache starts, how long it lasts, where it hurts, and what the pain is
like (throbbing, aching, stabbing, or dull).

The doctor can help make a treatment plan
that your child can follow at home and at school. Tell your child's teachers
and other caregivers about the treatment plan. Be sure to discuss any headache
medicines your child takes. Encourage your child to always let caregivers know
when a headache starts.

To treat migraines or tension headaches at home:

Give medicines for your child's headache exactly as your
doctor says. If your doctor has not prescribed any medicines for headaches,
give your child a pain reliever, such as children's acetaminophen or
ibuprofen.

Have your child go to a quiet, dark room to rest. Most
headaches will go away with rest or sleep. Watching TV, using the computer, talking on the phone and sending text messages, or reading can
often make the headache worse.

Put a cold, moist cloth or ice pack on the
part of the head that hurts. If you use ice, put a thin cloth between the ice
and your child's skin. Do not use heat, since it can make the pain
worse.

Gently massage your child's neck and
shoulders.

Give your child water, juice, and other drinks that do
not contain caffeine. This may help the headache go away faster. Water is the
best choice.

Tell your child's doctor about any new symptoms that occur
with a headache, such as a fever, weakness or numbness, vision changes, or
confusion. These may be signs of a more serious problem.

Children may feel stress from schoolwork, sports, social
events, a poor self-image, or problems with friends. These pressures can lead
to headaches in some children. Talk to your child about what might be causing
stress. You can help
find ways to cope with the stress, which may help prevent the headaches.

Talk to the doctor if you think your child may be
depressed or
anxious. Treating these problems may reduce the number
of headaches your child has.

Keeping a
headache diary(What is a PDF document?) helps you find a link between your
child's headaches and the things that trigger them. Help your child write down when
each headache starts, how long it lasts, where it hurts, and what the pain is
like (throbbing, aching, stabbing, or dull).

Write down any other
symptoms your child has with the headache, such as nausea or being sensitive to
bright light or noise. List anything you think might have triggered the
headache.

Remember that it might take up to 24 hours for some
triggers to cause a headache. Other triggers can lead to a headache right away.

Show the headache diary to your child's doctor at each visit. The
doctor can help you and your child figure out what the triggers are. When you
know your child's triggers, you can help your child avoid those things.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.